Brooklyn Bethel in the 1940 census

dissonance_resolved

Prompted by another post, I looked up 124 Columbia Heights in the 1940 census. A few interesting things: all occupants are listed as having the profession of "Sell- Religious books," except Rutherford who is listed as an "Editor." Odd that they aren't listed as ministers.

Also, all the educational levels of the occupants were provided- many had not even graduated high school and some not even grammar school. A few names jumped out (number= highest grade completed with H as high school and C as college):

K Klein 8

G Suitor H1

H Covington H4

F Franz C4

M Henschel H2

N Knorr H4

R Kurzen C3

M Larson H4

JT Rutherford C3

C Wise 4

All white males with just a few white females. What a difference some distance makes!

LoisLane looking for Superman

Isn't it interesting that most of the wive's education equals or is higher than their husband's?

The census pages for Brooklyn Bethel are pages 23-27.

At the end of page 27, it lists Rutherford as "Head". His age as 70. M for married... "Judge" Rutherford's schooling is listed as C3. (3 years of College) At the end of his line it says "Institution". So he was Head, and Editor of an Institution.

Next comes the rich man, William J. Heath. Age 36, birth place Georgia and that 5 years before that, he was living in Georgia. M for married. M for male. Education... 8th grade.

Then very last, but most important to Rutherford, is his old live in girlfriend, Bonnie Boyd,

now , respectably married and listed as Heath, William Po . F (for female) M (for married).

Did Bonnie, herself talk with the census taker and give her name, as in she was Mrs William Heath?

It looks like first name " Po " but maybe Bonnie said "My name is Bo"???

Who knows.

It says " Po " aka Bonnie Boyd, born Iowa, lived 5 years ago, "same place", meaning Brooklyn Bethel, where she was a single woman.

For education, Bonnie gives herself C4, (College 4 years) meaning she has the census taker write down (without giving proof) that she was more educated than her husband or her old boyfriend, "Judge" Rutherford. lol

At the end of Bonnie and her husband's line it says their profession is "Secretary", then of "Educational Work".

LL ( not Bean...) lol

steve2

All brain dead back then, and now also long physically dead. A re-uniting of spirit and flesh. The end sure came - just not the end they were expecting: Their very own.

gingerbread

Nice find.

If you research educational data in the first half of the 20th century in the United States, you will find it quite common that many children only completed their primary education. Parents during the Depression of the 1930's were forced to have their children enter the work force instead of going on to secondary education. This was especially true in rural areas.

In 1940, only 50% of students completed enough credits to receive a High School diploma. The majority of these graduates were female.

So this census record provides little out of the ordinary when compared to the average citizen of the day. In the 1920's and 30's, very few people attended college.

Of course the self proclaimed anointed who made up the Watchtower's leadership weren't just "average citizens" .... but that is another topic all together.

ginger

NeonMadman

At the end of page 27, it lists Rutherford as "Head". His age as 70. M for married... "Judge" Rutherford's schooling is listed as C3. (3 years of College) At the end of his line it says "Institution". So he was Head, and Editor of an Institution.

Gotta wonder how he became a lawyer with only 3 years of college.

clarity

Neon .... he just s t r e c h e d the truth a bit!!!!!!!

Perry

F Franz C4

Franz was a college drop-out. That is verifiable. The C4 designation is either misleading or false.

Nathan Natas

Wasn't Hayden Covington an attorney? How could he only have had 4 years of High School?

[see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayden_C._Covington]

bsmart

I understand you could become an attorney with on the job training and an exam. So several years working under a lawyer and some kind of certification. Correct me if I am wrong.

Nathan Natas

OK, bsmart, consider this your correction.

Did you miss the part of the wikipedia article that said, " An able student, Covington worked his way through law school in San Antonio , successfully passing the Texas bar exam, with an impressively high score, one year before graduation. He was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1933"?

Brooklyn Bethel in the 1940 census

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